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Kinnock under fire over suspension of EC accountant

Former Commons Public Accounts Committee chairman David Davis has attacked European Commission vice president Neil Kinnock over the suspension of former EC chief accountant Marta Andreasen for revealing the Commission is still failing to meet minimum accounting standards.

Davis, the shadow deputy prime minister, said the way Kinnock handled the whistleblower, ‘an employee who wanted to improve the Commission’s financial management’ raised serious concerns about his commitment to reform and to an open and honest government.

Andreasen was suspended last week after she claimed the EC’s £63bn budget was ‘out of control’. A decision has yet to be taken on whether she will be dismissed.

Last week famed EC whistleblower Paul van Buitenen resigned due to disillusionment with financial reforms at the European Commission and his disapproval at the treatment of Andreasen.